Key case



Dec. 12, 1939. o, HALVORSEN 2,183,453

KEY CASE Filed Feb. 23, 1939 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 12, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

My invention relates to key cases and has among its objects and advantages the provision of an improved key selector.

An object of my invention is to provide a key case within which a large number of keys may be mounted and in which novel key selecting means are incorporated, whereby one or more frequently used keys may readily be separated from the less frequently used keys.

Another object is to provide a key case comprising a single sheet of flexible material bent back upon itself to provide two walls hingedly connected together, in which a large number of keys may be movably anchored to one wall and in which the said one wall includes a tab connected with some of the keys in the case for separating the said some of the keys from the other keys inthe case.

A further object is to provide a key case including two hingedly connected walls in which i a plurality of keys are pivotally connected with one wall, and in which the said one wall includes novel means so related to some of the keys as to constitute a selector therefor.

With these and other objects in view, this invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed. e

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a key case embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view of the key case illustrating the manner in which the frequently used keys may be separated from the remaining keys in the case; and

Figure 3 is a sectional detail view of the key selector.

In the embodiment selected to illustrate my invention, I make use of a key case In which may comprise a sheet of leather or other material bent back upon itself at E2 to provide side walls It and I6. Bend I2 constitutes a hinge. Walls l4 and I6 are provided with fastener runs I8 which may be connected or disconnected through the medium of the slide 20. Such slide fasteners are well known in the art and need not be described in further detail.

To the wall [6 I connect a plate 22, which may be attached to the wall by rivets 24. Plate 22 is bent to provide a semicircular trough 26 opening against the Wall I6. Trough 26 is provided with a plurality of transverse slots 28 for loosely receiving the links 30 having eyelets 32 connected with a shaft 34 lying in the trough. Links 30 includes eyelets 36 for supporting snaps 38, which in turn carry the keys 40. Eyelets 32 rotate freely on the shaft 3t, while the shaft may be welded 5 to the trough 26 to restrain the shaft from relative enclwise movement.

Wall it includes a tab 42 constituting an extension of its upper end, but slightly narrower than the wall to permit the tab to be folded back 10 upon the wall. Thus the tab 42 will lie inside the case) when the walls l4 and it are closed. Tab 32 includes a plurality of openings 44 located to receive some of the snaps 38. Openings 44 are of sufficient diameter to give the snaps freedom, 15 but When the tab is moved from the position of Figure l to that of Figure 2, the keys'connected with the snaps projecting through the openings 44 will be separated from the remaining keys. According to Figure 1, some of the keys lie underneath the tab 42, while the remaining keys are positioned on the other side of the tab. The keys of frequent use are connected with the snaps 33 projecting through the openings in the tab 42. Tab 42, together with the keys asso- 25 ciated therewith, is movable independently of the keys of less frequent use. p

All the keys are completely housed inside the. case it. The tab 42 lies between the walls [4 and it when the case is closed. Slide 20 interlocks 30 the two fastener runs l8 across the lower ends of the side walls [4 and i6 and throughout their longitudinal edges. When so locked, the keys are effectively housed inside the case and are restrained from accidental dropping therefrom. 35

After the case has been opened, one finger may be inserted underneath the tab 42, and a mere flip of the finger moves the tab to the position of Figure 2. When so positioned, the keys connected with the tab are moved entirely in the 40 clear of the remaining keys in the case. While only two openings 34 are illustrated, the tab 42 may be provided with any desired number of openings. Any number of frequently used keys may be operatively connected with the tab 42. 45 Selection of the frequently used key or keys may be made through the sense of touch, thus facilitating the selection of the keys under lighting conditions which are such as to render the keys invisible to sight.

I claim:

A key'case comprising first and second walls pivotally connected together to be folded toward each other to provide a case, a tab extending from one end of said second wall and adapted to be folded toward the second wall to normally lie inside the case between said first and second walls, said tab having an opening, and a plurality of key mounts movably supported on said second wall adjacent said tab, one of said key mounts projecting through said opening and said tab normally being folded over the other key mounts, with the tab so fashioned as to expose all the keys attached to said key mounts when said tab lies folded over the key mounts, said tab being adapted to move the key mount projecting through the opening therein and the key attached to the key mount to a position separated from the other key mounts and keys connected therewith when said tab is folded away from said second wall.

OLAF HALVORSEN. 

